CURB-65 scoring: which thresholds correspond to outpatient management, hospital admission, and ICU-level care?

• A. 0-2 outpatient; 3-4 hospital admission; 5 ICU
• B. 0-1 outpatient; 2-3 hospital admission; 4-5 ICU-level care
• C. 1-2 outpatient; 3-4 hospital; 5-6 ICU
• D. 0-1 hospital; 2-3 ICU; 4-5 outpatient

Answer: (B)

CURB-65 is a simple bedside tool used to risk-stratify adults with community-acquired pneumonia and guide where you should treat them. It assigns one point each for five factors: confusion, high urea, fast breathing, low blood pressure, and age over 65. The total score increases with greater illness severity, so the pattern is that the lowest scores are appropriate for outpatient management, intermediate scores warrant hospital admission for closer monitoring and treatment, and the highest scores require ICU-level care due to the higher risk of death and deterioration. This gradation helps clinicians balance safety with resource use, reserving intensive care for those most likely to benefit.